Fort Myers based Home-Tech, an appliance repair and sales company, will begin construction in April on a new regional office and showroom in east Manatee County.
Through small-business incentives approved by Manatee County government, Home-Tech could receive as much as $22,000 for adding 21 jobs over the next five years, and the company is eligible for $5,743 in impact fee refunds.
The new office and showroom will be housed in two buildings with a total of 20,000 square feet. The showroom is scheduled to open by early 2011.
Home-Tech was founded in 1981 by Steve Marino, the company's president and CEO. Its primary focus originally was home air conditioner repair, and Marino was the only employee. Additional services, such as air conditioner installation, appliance repair and sales, were added over the years as the company expanded its territory across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Marino transitioned the company into an employee-held entity in 1996. Home-Tech now employs more than 115 people and has a fleet of more than 80 vehicles.
Writer: Carter Gaddis
Source: Eric Basinger, Manatee Economic Development Council
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